The Arabist

By Issandr El Amrani and friends.

Wael Ghonim asks Morsi to step down

And the build-up to anti-Morsi protests in Egypt on June 30th continues... Here is a video message by world-famous activist Wael Ghonim, taking the Islamist president to task for allegedly breaking the promises he made a year ago. Translated transcript by Nour.

In the name of God, the Merciful. Allah Almighty said: “And fulfill (every) covenant. Verily! The covenant will be questioned about.”

Last year during the runoff presidential elections, the then-presidential candidate Mohamed Morsi emerged with a number of pledges to the Egyptian people to win their votes. These promises did, in fact, make a difference for him -- as evidenced by him winning the elections by a very small margin, thanks to many people, a great many of whom are now considered agents of the West and haters of religion.

Three days after the elections, just like today, I attended the Fairmont (hotel) meeting with the president before the official result was announced, when the Muslim Brothers were afraid of forgery, and so decided to confirm their commitments to their promises. That day, the president promised us to be a president for all Egyptians, he promised to honor his campaign slogan: "Our strength, in our unity.” But, unfortunately, a year later the slogan is now “Our strength, in our Brotherhood.” The president, that day, promised us to respect the opposition and shared decision-making, but (now) we find that we have replaced a ruling party that considered whoever opposes it to be a traitor and an agent with another ruling party that considers whoever opposes it to be a traitor, an agent and a hater of religion. The president at the Fairmont meeting promised retribution for (the killers) of those who died in the revolution, but what we have seen is that people are still dying under his rule. The youth that took to Tahrir Sq. to chant the day (Morsi) won -- their mothers are now crying with sadness, (grieving) their (youth’s) martyrdom when they took to (the streets) to oppose him.

The president, that day, promised to rely on those who are competent, but today he is working on the theory of “those who can be trusted.” And his appointment of ministers and governors, some of whom have nothing but the fact that they are members of the MB or are supporters of them to justify their appointment as a minister or a governor, serves as the best proof of that.

His [President Morsi’s] Brotherhood is now threatening to pass the judicial authority law to terrorize the judges, and not to reform the judiciary. And sentences like “If I don’t respect the constitution, I want you to revolt against me,” or “This constitution will not be ratified without a consensus,” where just nice lines that resulted in him winning the elections, but, unfortunately, they were forgotten when he came to power.

During this year, we saw an unconstitutional declaration that divided Egyptians, one that (caused) a group of presidential advisers to resign. Even his legal adviser said he didn’t have any prior knowledge of it, even the minister of justice and the vice president announced their opposition of it. Who is making these decisions?

As a result of all of this, we are now in a political crisis, which caused an economic crisis. It is true that the current regime inherited the (latter) from the former regime, but its bad policies have contributed to worsening the crisis, rather than solving it. Crises like price hikes, the depreciation of the (Egyptian) pound against the US dollar and the evaporation of the 100-days promises after a year has passed, and not just a 100 days, and the poor economic conditions, have brought us to a point where the supporters of the president now consider the news of Egypt borrowing from another country good news, despite the fact that the price of the loans will be paid by our children and our grandchildren.

Instead of admitting (their) mistakes, we find conspiracy theories to excuse failures and talk about imaginary achievements. And what’s more dangerous and catastrophic than all of that is the (state of) division we’ve reached. The exclusionary, hateful and inciting speeches, the legitimizing violence and blood, and the fighting between supporters and opponents, like what happened in Eitihadia, Mokattam and many of Egypt’s governorates -- These things have becomes a dangerous phenomenon in society, because no country advances when the society is divided like this. And the main role of the president of the republic is to unite, but, unfortunately, Dr. Morsi, the president of the republic, has miserably failed to do this. I was hoping that after a year from the election of Dr. Morsi, I would be thanking him for what he did for Egypt, but, unfortunately, the Egyptian scene right now has become very dangerous and all the parties are motivated against each other, and anyone who loves this country must be worried about what is happening, because in the current conflict, regardless of its future victor, Egypt will lose. And that is why it is important that the president of the republic sets an example as a patriotic, loyal, Egyptian, who is keen on the homeland’s interest being bigger than his own personal interest, or that of his group.

Today, I direct my call to the president of the republic: Dr. Morsi, every vote that elected you believing that “Our strength, in our unity” was not a slogan, but what was to be an on-the-ground reality, you have lost today. Every vote that elected you thinking you would be a president for all Egyptians, not just your people, clan and supporters, you have lost today. Every vote that elected you believing that you would honor your electoral promises, you have lost today. Dr. Morsi, Egypt is bigger than any current, any group and any party, and you yourself announced, the day you assumed the presidency, that we are not obliged to obey you unless you fulfill your pledges, and that you won’t betray Allah(‘s teachings) when it comes to us. Dr. Morsi, put an end to the strife we’re on the brink of, for God and for the homeland, and announce your resignation before June 30.